On my 17th birthday, I left home on a freight train with a backpack, a GED, emancipation papers and $5.00 in my pocket. Yes, FIVE. I caught trains and hitchhiked my way to Portland, Oregon. Relying on the kindness of strangers, I traveled to cities and across landscapes in ways few others get to experience. I worked day jobs across the country (Manpower) and slept under the stars…..as well as in Salvation Armies, missions and hobo jungles. Occasionally I made enough for a hotel room (including Circus Circus in Las Vegas when a railroad detective pulled me out the forth locomotive on a train. As I traveled the Southern bubble surrounding me burst and I gained a knowledge that can’t be found in text books. The veil lifted and those experiences changed me forever – both mentally and spiritually..

Two years later, I came off the road, found my way into college and started down a new path. Eventually I found my way to New Orleans where I bartended and waited tables while living in the French Quarter. I also started working for music magazines and traveling to music conferences where I met some of the most renowned musicians in the world. This led to an interest in the ‘music business’ and when a ‘Music Business & Video Production” program opened up at the Art Institute I moved to Seattle. The “grunge” scene was explode and I went from Heart and Queensryche to Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. I was in the midst of it when I finally graduated in the summer of 1993. I was 30.

Upon graduation, toured and built concert stages across the US. I also worked as a stage and production manager, drum and guitar tech, spotlighting operator, rigger and every other skill set needed to become a Journeyman Stagehand in IATSE Local 39 and it’s sister local (movie/film mechanics) IATSE Local 478 of which I hold the card. I worked in various art departments as a prop master, set dresser constructor on over 26 feature films and television production according to IMDB. The union has allowed me to live and work in San Jose, San Francisco, Santa Cruz/Monterrey, Los Angeles, Calabasas, New Orleans and even Baton Rouge.

Throughout the years, I’ve promoted concerts, produced albums, managed bands and otherwise lived the dream. Feast of famine, it’s not always been easy but it’s always been interesting.

22 Facts about Trey. CURRENTLY A WORK IN PROGRESS

 

1. 1. I had 2 “first concerts”. (Physical 1st) Three Dog Night ’71 at 9 (I begged my parents) where I came away inspired enough to join and play drums in my elementary school band. It also planted the “hippie, hair, drums and traveling” seed. (Spiritual 1st) Led Zeppelin ’77 at 14 (with my friend) where we found religion in a “dazed & confused” state of mind. This solidified the original plan.

1. 1. In 7th grade, I was sent off to military school for a year where I attended Riverside Military Academy. They had 2 campuses for 3 seasons (Gainesville, GA & Hollywood, FL)

1. 1. In 10th grade I left home again to a Catholic Boarding School in Bay St Louis, MS.

1. 1. I was a prison guard at Angola Penitentiary (at 20 and during a semester break in college).

1. 1. New Orleans is my hometown (although I no longer live there). The music community is the best.

1. 1. My favorite place in the one I haven’t visited, favorite food is the one that hasn’t crossed my tongue, favorite beer and spirits is that which I haven’t savored and favorite band is that which is yet to come to my ears.

1. 1. I have been to all 50 United States and 12 countries.

1. 1. My favorite band to work with were The Rolling Stones. Favorite musician was Keith Richards.

1. 1. My favorite actors and actresses to work with (due to their kindness and ease when I was just starting out) are Antonio Banderas, Burt Reynolds, Selma Blair and Colin Hanks.

1. 1. I’ve toured as Stage Manager several times with 3 time Grammy Winner Fantastic Negrito (back when he was known as “Xavier”). His backing vocalist was Broadway superstar “Idina Mendez”.

1. 1. I love politics but it’s too divisive to debate. There will always be haters. I am not a hater.

1. 1. Growing up in Daly City, where 55% of the population is Asian, my first experience with culture shock was when I moved to San Diego for college and the majority of students weren’t Asian. I joined the Filipino-American student organization because of this, where I learned to be proud of my culture and heritage.

1. 1. Don’t Tell Anybody: I love ABBA and Taylor Swift (the early stuff)

1. 1. I learned to Cajun dance when bartending at a Cajun music restaurant in New Orleans.

1. 1. I grew up with Classic Rock but love Alternative, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Funk, Gospel, Heavy Metal, Hippie Country, Jamband, Jamgrass, Rock, Old Soul, Outlaw Country, Reggae, Roots and Singer-Songwriters. I also love Snoop Dog, Mary J Blige, Eminem and Tony Bennett.

1. 1. The first concert I worked 6/26/79 was the The Commodores (with Lionel Richie) and Patti LaBelle. I shot billiards in the hotel bar with Patti before some Commodores asked me and a friend to take them to buy a jam box and tapes at a local record store. They paid us with backstage “band security” passes and let us ride in a black, stretch limo to the show.

1. 1. The next show I worked was Van Halen in Baton Rouge on 8/30/80. I worked security behind the barricades in the front center of stage. The head of security kept running out and yelling at me to watch the audience and not the stage. 5 feet behind me was David Lee Roth doing flips off the drum riser, Eddie shredding like a banshee and Alex’s drum kit and gong in flames. Yea, right!

1. 1. I hate canned drums, auto-tune and artists who perform to “tracks”.

1. 1. I’ve attended well over 5,000 concerts and have kept track of the dates, warmup acts and many of the setlists.

1. 1. I’ve gone through numerous Hurricanes including Katrina but I still don’t like ’em).

1. 1. I didn’t leave leave the North American continent until I was 36.

1. 1. I’ve driven entertainer tour buses (including Lady Gaga’s) although I didn’t drive her.

1. 1. My desire to become a blogger and digital nomad started during the pandemic.

1. 1. My favorite food (and spirits) are that which haven’t crossed my tongue. My favorite band is that which hasn’t passed my ears and favorite place is that where I haven’t been.